The concept of the ‘default’ choice

The term ‘default’ is familiar from computing discourse.

Choice of the default grapheme

When we talk of a phoneme being represented by such-and-such a grapheme ‘by default’ we mean that:

• the phoneme will ordinarily be represented by that grapheme
• unless there is a reason or circumstance for the phoneme to be represented by a different grapheme.

Here are examples of such default statements.

• The grapheme < c > is the default for representing the phoneme / k / in initial and medial positions.
• The grapheme < f > is the default for representing the phoneme / f / in all positions.

The default is only overridden by a relevant phonological or etymological circumstance, or an orthographic convention. For instance:

• the grapheme < c > for / k / can be overridden by the digraph < ch > in words of Greek origin, or by < k > if the following letter is < e > < i > or < y >;
• the grapheme < f  > for / f / can be overridden by the digraph < ph > in words of Greek origin.

In the main part of this Theme we shall see that the ‘default’ grapheme for the phoneme / ᴧ / is < u >.